It will come as no surprise that as one of the owners of a maternity boutique I would write a blog post touting the benefits of maternity clothes. In my defense though if I didn't believe in the value of maternity clothes, I would never have set out to make a living selling them - it would be like a vegan opening up a steak house. I will endeavor not to make this post a shameless plug for Bump, but the reality is it will probably be about as 'fair and balanced' as Fox News.
I wasn't fortunate enough to have Bump during my first pregnancy, over 5 years ago. I made a lot of mistakes, many of which definitely influenced my decision to open Bump. Like a lot of other women who fought buying maternity clothes I found myself 8 1/2 months pregnant and utterly miserable because nothing fit, I had completely lost my identity in how I dressed, and everything made me feel uncomfortable.
So based on my experience as woman with 2 pregnancies under (and over) her belt and 3 years as the co-proprietress of a maternity boutique, here is my argument for maternity clothes.
"Nothing fits any more. Maybe I should just buy clothes that are a couple of sizes bigger than I normally wear."
Yes you could buy clothes that are a couple of sizes too big or to even start shopping in the men's department (really, please don't) but there are a couple of problems with this solution. First of all, the waist is probably the only place they will fit. Secondly you aren't saving money. If you are going to buy something new, at least buy something that will fit your entire body and flatter your shape.
"Why spend money when it is just for 9 months?"
Most of us have an official or unofficial seasonal budget for new clothes. New seasons roll around and whether it's through wear and tear, new trends, or the simple pleasure of retail therapy, we add in a new pair of jeans, a summer dress, a winter coat, a great little cardigan or a cute new accessory. It is rare that any of us will let 6 months pass without buying anything new. So treat your pregnancy like a new season and allocate yourself the same budget you would to any other season.
Secondly the reality is, it's not just 9 months. It would be nice to go straight back to our former bodies and favorite old pieces of clothing after we give birth but isn't normal or natural. While our bodies are adjusting enlarged boobs and readjusting to no longer housing our babies we need clothing that is kind to our bodies.
"I'll just find something cheap/on-sale/consignment that will do, after-all it is only 9 months*."
This was my initial reaction 5 years ago so I went out and bought a pair of black maternity from the pants from The Gap on sale. I forgot years of standing in fitting rooms trying on pair upon pair of Gap jeans and pants only to finally accept that their pants just don't fit me very well. But they were $40 so I would make them work. But they didn't work, I didn't return them and wore them once. $40 for 1 day - not a good equation. Now if I had just bought the pair of amazing jeans I wanted for $180 I would have worn them at least 40 times at much better rate of $4.50 at a day.
Of course if you can find items you love cheap/on-sale/consignment then cha-ching! But really, don't sell yourself short on something that "will do" when you can find something that you'll love and works for your sense of style and body shape.
*See above.
"I have lots of things in my wardrobe that work already."
This one is actually not something I would disagree with. With the addition of a bella band and a muffin top stopper for your pants & skirts, a lot of your pre-pregnancy wardrobe will grow with you happily throughout your pregnancy and prevent you from having to re-invent your wardrobe.
It might sound incredibly superficial, but I really do believe in the power of fashion. It's a way of expressing ourselves. It shouldn't be all that defines us, but it is one piece of a unique and varied puzzle that we create for ourselves. When you are pregnant you should absolutely not abandon that, and you certainly don't have to. Pregnancy and parenthood is such a pivotal time in our lives that it's good to feel grounded in anyway we can. Clothes are part of that grounding. So even when you are giving up wine, caffeinated coffee, sushi, unpasteurized cheese, hot dogs (not necessarily a huge sacrifice unless you go to Bark) and 8 hours of sleep, you don't have to give up fashion...or comfort.
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